Just One Moment

I hate Time. Time is one of my worst enemies. Either it moves too fast, or it moves too slowly. It brings things I would avoid forever into existence, it keeps things I'm excited for a moment out of reach. Most often, I find that it has flown by and I haven't even noticed.

I used to be homeschooled. Every morning around ten o'clock, my mom and I would curl up in the living room and have our Bible study. In the winter, this usually included hot chocolate, the fireplace, and a blanket. It was my favorite part of the day, sitting and discussing God's precious Word with one of the most godly women I know.

Then I started public school, and all that changed. My mom and I get this time maybe once a month, usually if I'm sick. This saddens me, because now it means I usually don't get a Bible study at all. It used to be that I could drink in what God had to say to me every single day. Now, by the time I'm finished with homework and have nothing pressing, I'm too tired to sit down and spend time with God.

Is Jesus ever too tired to spend time with me? No! That's ridiculous! So should I ever be too tired to sit with Him and hear from Him? No, but I am. I tell myself I am, and I go to bed usually not having talked to God for more than five minutes, and that's on a good day. And I find that when I don't take the time to bare my heart to my Best Friend, I end up more tired.

It's a foolish notion that going to bed instead of talking to Jesus will make me more energetic. There's tons of verses in the Bible that contradict that idea. Here's just one: "The LORD replied, 'My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.'" (Exodus 33:14) God's Presence itself is what brings rest, so I should be going out of my way to hear from Him! God knows we need rest. That's why He created the Sabbath. But the ultimate rest is found in Him. Not a ten-hour night's sleep. Not a movie marathon. Him.

I've made a resolution to spend at least five minutes with God every day. I'll find a short study or read through a book of the Bible. Whatever I do, I'll be consistent, and I'll ask God to help me be faithful in this. Whether it be before I go to bed, at lunchtime at school, or in-between time on stage at musical practice, it really doesn't matter. That's yet another amazing thing about God -- it doesn't matter where you are. He's always there with you.

It takes a lifetime to really get to know God. It takes just one moment to be refreshed by Him. Can you sacrifice that one moment?